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Tag: Judith A. McHale

  • Discovery’s new biz unit to launch Health On-Call VOD service

    Discovery’s new biz unit to launch Health On-Call VOD service

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications has formed a new integrated, multiplatform business called Discovery Health Media Enterprises, with plans to roll out the Discovery Health On-Call VOD service this October.

    This new business unit includes the Discovery Health Channel and FitTV television networks and online assets including www.discoveryhealth.com, as well as its Continuing Medical Education (CME) business.

    The Health On-Call sevice will offer cable viewers access to a slate of health information through short-form videos culled from the Discovery Health Channel and FitTV, as well as from organizations such as the March of Dimes and the American Diabetes Association.

    Also in the coming months, this unit will launch Discovery Health Mobile, a new service that will include programming alerts, expert tips and short-form content as an enhancement to its online, VOD and network program offerings.

    With this initiative, Discovery Health Media Enterprises is the only fully integrated multi-platform health care media entity that provides access to a centralized online, television and mobile community for research tools, expert advice and customized products and services.

    “Built upon a highly trusted brand, Discovery Health Media Enterprises will incorporate a new line of products and services to be the leader in providing consumers with the most relevant and credible health and medical information,” said president and CEO of Discovery Communications Judith A. McHale. “We believe there is a large business opportunity for the company in high quality health media. Our goal is to be the most trusted media source that enables consumers to better manage their families’ health and wellness needs.”

    Discovery Communications has initiated an executive search to recruit a senior level executive from the health care sector to oversee the business unit. Discovery Health Channel and FitTV executive VP and general manager Eileen O’Neill will continue in her role and work closely with the Discovery Networks U.S. division, which currently supports both networks in the production, marketing, sales and research functions.

  • Discovery acquires British tour firm to build new travel media group

    Discovery acquires British tour firm to build new travel media group

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications has acquired the U.K.-based Antenna Audio as part of its efforts to build the newly formed Discovery Travel Media group. Antenna Audio is a specialist in audio tours and multimedia interpretation for museums, historical sites and cultural attractions around the globe.

    Discovery Communications the president and CEO Judith A. McHale said, “The acquisition of Antenna Audio immediately gives Discovery a major presence in the growing audio and multimedia market around the world. The company’s global assets nicely complement Discovery’s television and digital services as we continue to aggressively pursue business opportunities that extend our trusted brands, increase revenue, and allow Discovery to package top quality content to consumers wherever they are and however they want it.”

    Antenna Audio provides audio and multimedia tours in more than 20 countries and offers translations in multiple languages at more than 350 museums and cultural sites worldwide. Discovery plans to draw on Antenna’s resources to expand into the market for downloadable travel guides, as well as destination, city and walking tours. Antenna Audio sold more than 20 million audio and multimedia tours last year.

    “Culture travelers are a coveted segment of the travelling public, and the power and reach of Discovery’s assets will allow us to strengthen and expand Antenna Audio’s position even further in the growing consumer travel market,” said head of Discovery Travel Media and the EVP and GM of Travel Channel Patrick Younge.

    Discovery Travel Media includes the Travel Channel, available in more than 84 million U.S. homes, online assets including www.travelchannel.com and a broadband offering, Travel Channel Beyond (www.travelchannelbeyond.com) as well as travel related content for VOD and mobile platforms.

  • Discovery Communication launches online homework service

    Discovery Communication launches online homework service

    MUMBAI: Capitalizing on broadband video, Discovery Communications has launched Cosmeo, an online homework help service engineered for the twenty first century family.

    The site has been designed for the generation that lives online, Cosmeo harnesses the power of broadband and media to help kids achieve academic breakthroughs.

    In an official statement, Cosmeo is the only comprehensive digital library that includes easy to digest homework help, interactive learning games and more than 30,000 video clips that are correlated to grade level and state curriculum standards.

    The intuitive interface allows kids in grades K through 12 across the 50 states to instantly reference video clips and other learning tools for any required assignment in all key subject areas.

    For more than 20 years, Discovery has been committed to providing knowledge that satisfies human curiosity across any platform,” Discovery Communications founder and chairman John Hendricks said. “Cosmeo will bring the world to students at the click of a mouse and will allow them to continue their learning experience at home and improve their performance at school.”

    “Cosmeo is the first educational tool to teach today’s kids in the way they learn best. This online product meets them where they’re spending most of their time and is helping to define how they learn today,” said Discovery Communications president and CEO Judith A McHale.

    “Cosmeo also gives parents a terrific window into their kids’ education and the ability to participate in their progress at school like never before. We sense families across the United States will find a real benefit in, for example, the WebMath section, which offers a full spectrum of math learning — from third-grade multiplication tables to advanced calculus — with easy-to- understand, step-by-step solutions,” added McHale.

    Cosmeo’s features include:

    30,000 educational videos that make complex topics easier to understand and retain;
    Powerful search tools that instantly locate information by subject,grade level, and keyword — something no other search engine can do;

    Over 15,000 interactive quizzes and 200 subject-related Brain Games, all supported by videos;
    20,000 high-resolution digital photos and 2,300 clip art images available for school projects;
    Digital encyclopedia with access to over 27,000 research articles, soon to be expanded;

    WebMath equation solver detailing step-by-step explanations to most math problems; and much more.

    Cosmeo, tested by educators and consumers with content proven to help students with homework and learning, is available for the introductory price of $9.95 per month or $99 per year after a free 30-day trial. The standard retail price of Cosmeo is $12.95 per month or $129 per year.